Bumper



Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

CHRISTIAN' GIRL, or KALAr/rnz'oo,ivircHrGANpssrofNoit"irorHr;fobes'rRr"itctffigvy BUMPER coMrANy, orDErnornMIoHIcnma conPpRArIoNxfor prfnawnnn BUMrER.

Application filed November 23, 1922.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN GIRL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bumpers, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates -toautomobile bumpers, and more particularly tothe means for supporting the same from the side frame members of suchvehicles. It is the general object of the invention to provide a meansfor attaching the supporting arms or members of such bumpers to the sideframes in a manner which will prevent the arms from breakage at or inthe immediate vicinity of the bolt hole or bolt holes by which the armsare so secured to the frame members. f

In the drawings forming part hereof, Fig. 1 represents a sectional planView of a portion of an automobile bumper' and its cooperating sideframe members, 4showing the manner in `which my invention is em@ ployedtherewith; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, 1 denotes one ofthe channeled side frame members of an automobile, 2 the front bar orplate, and 3 the rear bar or plate of a bumper. The bumper may 'be ofany desired construction, the form shown hereinbeing selected merely forpurposes of illustration. Adjustably mounted upon the rear -bar or plate3 is a clamp 4 which, as shown, comprises generally a front or outermember 5 and a rear orinner member 6, receiving therebetween the rearbar or plate 3 and being secured together by bolts 7. The clamp isprovided with rearwardly or inwardlyV extending projections 8 by meansof which it may bepivotally secured, as A*by means of a bolt 9, to aneye 11 on the front or outer endof a supporting arm 10.l Two suchsupporting arms will be employed, one for each of the side members 1.

The supporting arms 10` are preferably of flat-plate stock, eachpreferably offset outwardly to provide proper clearance with the springhorn at the end of the side member and with the spring supporting boltsemi No. 602,681.

(not shown). The ,rear4 or inner portion 10a of the supporting arm isadapted to ing arms, 'and there is a tendency for such f arms to breakat the front or outer bolt holes 10". In order to prevent such breakage,I apply tothe outer face of each of these supporting arms a reinforcingplate 14, preferably of less width than the width of such arm and eachhaving a central hole for the `reception of the bolt 13. Each o-f theplates 14 is preferably chamfered or tapered at its ends, as shown at14, whereby it is adapted to yield with the arm 10a, when the latter issubjected to a lateral thrust. n

It has been found in practice that, by the use of this reinforcementplate at the point indicated, the spring steel bumper arms 10 areprevented from breaking at the bolt holes, with4 the result that thelives of thesev arms are greatly prolonged and the safety of the vehicleand its occupants is correspondingly enhanced. .f

Having thus describedr my invention, what I claim is:

l. The combination, with the side member of a vehicle, of a bumper, asupportingy arm for said bumper, the said arm having a flat portionadapted to bear against they side member, a bolt extending throughapertures inthe side member and the arm for securing the latter totheformer, and a reinforcing plate mounted o-n the outer surface ofsaid armand also having an aperture for said bolt, the said' plate forming abearing for one 4end of such bolt and eX- tending a short distance fromsuch bolt toward the bumper, whereby they arm andV plate will yieldunder thrusts applied laterally to'saidr arm between said bolt andy saidbumper.

2. rIhe combination, withv a bumper, of a'y supporting arm for saidbumper having a portion adapted to bear against and be at- Jcached to avehicle, and means for securing and having the end of such portionbeveled the said arm to such vehicle, vsaid means or tapered, wherebythe armand plate will comprising a reinforcing plate adapted to yieldunder thrusts applied laterally to said 10 be applied tothe outersurface ofsueh arm, arm between said bolt and said bumper.

5 said plate having an openingtherethrough In testimony whereof, Ihereunto alix and havinga portion extending a short dismy signature.tance from such bolt toward the bumper CHRISTIAN GIRL.

